House passes memorial declaring Jan. 27, 2026, New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day

The New Mexico House of Representatives on Jan. 27, 2026, approved House Memorial 19, declaring Jan. 27, 2026, New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day. The House recorded 70 members in the affirmative and 0 opposed on final passage.

The memorial, introduced by Representative Hockman Vigil and read on the floor, cites the state's concentration of aerospace activity, including more than 80 aerospace firms, Spaceport America, three major federal research laboratories and a claimed economic impact of about $300,000,000 and more than 8,000 jobs. The clerk read the memorial's language highlighting New Mexico's role in flight testing and commercial space activity.

Supporters on the floor noted the presence of industry guests and policymakers in the chamber. A member representing the spaceport's region said New Mexico's facilities and research assets create secondary economic activity and provide workforce opportunities. The memorial's text also cites combined annual budgets of the three federal laboratories of more than $6,000,000,000 and a combined employment figure of more than 21,000 people.

Procedurally, an unidentified member moved that the measure "do not pass" and asked unanimous consent to record that all members present voted in the affirmative. The presiding officer opened and closed the vote and announced the result as 70 to 0. The House clerk recorded the memorial as duly passed.

House Memorial 19 is a ceremonial recognition (a memorial) and does not enact statutory changes. The memorial also included a list of aerospace guests in the Ross Room and on the rostrum, identified during floor proceedings.

The memorial's immediate effect is ceremonial recognition; no further action was required on the House floor after passage. The House continued with committee reports and bill introductions after the vote.

Sources: Clerk's reading and floor proceedings on Jan. 27, 2026.